Wilton company's Web site vocalizes the vote

Photo/Alex von Kleydorff. Zemoga Principal D J Edgerton, gets in tune with the ''interactive quilt'' he created for Rock The Vote website from his Wilton headquaters.

Photo/Alex von Kleydorff. Zemoga Principal D J Edgerton, gets in tune with the ''interactive quilt'' he created for Rock The Vote website from his Wilton headquaters.

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Photo/Alex von Kleydorff. Zemoga Principal D J Edgerton, gets in tune with the ''interactive quilt'' he created for Rock The Vote website from his Wilton headquaters.

Photo/Alex von Kleydorff. Zemoga Principal D J Edgerton, gets in tune with the ''interactive quilt'' he created for Rock The Vote website from his Wilton headquaters.

Wilton company's Web site vocalizes the vote

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By KARA O'CONNOR

koconnor@wiltonvillager.com

WILTON-- Putting a voice behind a person's vote is the main focus of a new Web site launched one week ago by Zemoga Inc., a Wilton based digital agency.

"The key to this whole thing is to get people to participate in the upcoming presidential election," said DJ Edgerton, CEO of Zemoga Inc. "It is an opportunity for the public to express their opinions and let other people know exactly what their point of view is and why."

The new "A Million Reasons to Vote" Web site, http://www.amillionreasonstovote.com, is the very first photo-sharing and voice-recording Internet site, according to Edgerton. Hoorray.com, a photo sharing Web site designed by Zemoga, partnered with "Rock The Vote" and challenged Zemoga to design a new interactive site for the election.

"A Million Reasons to Vote" is that new site, which includes an interactive "virtual quilt" enabling users to upload a picture and attach a written and/or recorded audio message expressing why they are voting in the election.

According to Michael Perry, director of strategic partnerships for Hoorray.com, the new Web site, which is also part of the Rock The Vote campaign, capitalizes on the social networking explosion that has taken place in the last five years. "I think that this concept is something that people will really take to," he said. "It's important for people to take part in the election and in this digital age. I think this is the way to get people interested and involved."

People can attach any picture or message they want on the quilt, and they can remain anonymous if they want, said Edgerton. "It's important to know that this Web site has no agenda," said Edgerton. "This is completely a non-partisan site -- both parties are represented on the quilt. But I personally think the best patches are the ones that are eloquent and don't take a position on either side."

According to Edgerton, all kinds of people have posted their thoughts on the virtual quilt, and all of the country's 50 states are represented. "There are wives of soldiers that post on here, soldiers themselves, kids who are voting for the first time and people who have voted their entire lives -- even celebrities such as Brittany Murphy and Rex Lee are voicing their opinion," he said. "That is what is so great about this quilt, you can just click on a patch and never know what you are going to read. Some of it is smart and some of it is entertaining, but everything you read is real."

Each patch on the virtual quilt is self-monitoring. If somebody does read a patch and thinks it is offensive they can send an e-mail to the Web site's officials. But, fortunately, not one patch has been taken down from the quilt, said Edgerton. The virtual quilt has around 720 patches on it so far, and the number continues to grow every day, he said. "Our goal is around a million patches -- the Web site being a million reasons to vote. And it's a stretch, but you never know," said Edgerton. "Really, the goal is to just get people to want to voice their opinion and vote in this election. If we get people to do that our goal has been reached."

According to Edgerton, the project started out as an experiment to engage young people to vote, but all different ages are participating and voicing their opinions. "Since 'Rock The Vote' is partnered with MTV and is geared toward younger generations, we thought the demographic would be young voters," said Edgerton. "Young people are definitely participating but older voters are also interested, which is great."

Edgerton said the Web site's average user age is 32. "I think it is wonderful that people are getting very passionate about the election and their opinions on it," said Perry. "This is the way it should be. The quilt has been extremely successful and we are very excited with the result."

There is no charge to access http://www.amillionreasonstovote.com, and anyone who goes to the site can view the patches that are already posted. But visitors are encouraged to post their own patch, said Edgarton, and add to the growing number on the quilt. "This Web site is basically a forum for sharing subsequent reasons why you are going to vote," he said. "I invite everyone to just view the Web site at the very least and I hope reading some of these motivates other people to share their own thoughts. The election is so important -- I hope that these opinions get that message across."